Query meaning determination through a grid service

ABSTRACT

A method, system, and program for query meaning determination through a grid service are provided. A search service within a grid environment receives a free text string as a search query, wherein the free text string includes multiple specifications. The search service controls distribution of the free text string to a selection of grid components, wherein each of the selection of grid components is enabled to interpret a particular aspect of the meaning of the multiple specifications in the free text string. Multiple aspect interpretations of the free text string are received at the search service from the selection of grid components. Next, the search service synthesizes the aspect interpretations into a search-ready query, such that the search request is first interpreted by the selection of grid components to determine a thorough meaning of the free text string before submission to a search engine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates in general to improved query meaningdetermination and in particular to improved query meaning determinationthrough a grid service. Still more particularly, the present inventionrelates to converting free text strings into a search-ready stringthrough a grid service that distributes the free text string to multiplemeaning detectors functioning across multiple grid components andsynthesizes the interpretations returned from the multiple gridcomponents.

2. Description of the Related Art

A constant challenge within network environments is intelligently andreliably connecting users to just the right information availablethrough the network. In particular, for those web sites providinginterfaces for conducting electronic commerce, providing a way forconsumers to find a specific product, service, or information isimperative.

To meet the challenge of connecting users to just the right information,a common service provided through network-based service is a searchengine. Search engines receive a search query from a user and attempt tolocate the information most relevant to the user's search query.Different search engines may organize data in different ways so that thedata is easily searchable. For example, an index-based search engineindexes Internet documents to facilitate searching of those documents.

While the efficiency and breadth of coverage of content searchable bysearch engines continues to improve, a key limitation of most searchengines is the actual search query entered by the user. Many users havelittle training or skill in determining good search terms and themechanics of developing an effective search query to pose to a searchengine is daunting for many users. Thus, a developing area of searchengine improvement is the interpretation of search queries, whether theuser enters keywords, phrases, or concepts as a search query. Forexample, natural language processing of search queries is becoming moreprominent, where grammatical rules and knowledge databases are used todiscover the intent or meaning of a search query and to enhance thesearch string used in the actual search based on that intent or meaning.

A constraint on current natural language processing tools, however, isthat when a user is allowed to enter free text, the user may includemultiple specifications in a single query. As the number ofspecifications increases within a search query, the complexity ofparsing and thoroughly determining a meaning of the search queryincreases. And, in particular, current natural language processing toolsare limited because they do not support parsing and meaning detection ofmultiple specification free text as an out-of-box feature. Parsingmodules that look for certain categories of information within amultiple specification free text entry must be customized, leading toexpensive to program, non-reusable modules that only search forprogrammed categories.

Therefore, in view of the foregoing, there is a need for a method,system, and program for efficiently and cost effectively convertingmultiple aspect natural language or other free text into a search-readystring with improved thoroughness in parsing and accuracy meaningdetermination in the search-ready string. In particular, there is a needfor a method, system, and program for a multiple specification naturallanguage meaning determination service available out-of-box withreusable parsing components. Further, in particular, there is a need fora network architecture for supporting efficient and accuratethoroughness in parsing multiple specification free text to determinemeaning.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, the present invention in general provides forimproved query meaning determination and in particular provides forimproved query meaning determination through a grid service thatdetermines meaning of multiple specification free text language. Stillmore particularly, the present invention relates to converting free textstrings into a search-ready string through a grid service thatdistributes the free text string to multiple meaning detectorsfunctioning across multiple grid components and synthesizes theinterpretations returned from the multiple grid components.

According to one aspect of the invention, a search service within a gridenvironment receives a free text string as a search query, wherein thefree text string includes multiple specifications. The search servicecontrols distribution of the free text string to a selection of gridcomponents, wherein each of the selection of grid components is enabledto interpret a particular aspect of the meaning of the multiplespecifications in the free text string. Multiple aspect interpretationsof the free text string are received at the search service from theselection of grid components. Next, the search service synthesizes theaspect interpretations into a search-ready query, such that the searchrequest is first interpreted by the selection of grid components todetermine a thorough meaning of the free text string before submissionto a search engine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features believed aspect of the invention are set forth in theappended claims. The invention itself however, as well as a preferredmode of use, further objects and advantages thereof, will best beunderstood by reference to the following detailed description of anillustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 depicts one embodiment of a computer system which may beimplemented in a grid environment and in which the present invention maybe implemented;

FIG. 2 is block diagram illustrating one embodiment of the general typesof components within a grid environment;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram depicting one example of an architecture thatmay be implemented in a grid environment;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram depicting one example of the logicalcomponents of a search service operating within the grid environment inaccordance with the method, system, and program of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram depicting the components of a search servicein accordance with the method, system, and program of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram depicting a grid component specified tointerpret a particular aspect in accordance with the method, system, andprogram of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an illustrative example depicting a search service convertinga text string into search-ready string using multiple grid components tointerpret multiple aspects of the text string.

FIG. 8 is a high level logic flowchart depicting a process and programfor controlling a search service in accordance with the method, system,and program of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a high level logic flowchart depicting a process and programfor controlling a grid component in accordance with the method, system,and program of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1, there isdepicted one embodiment of a computer system which may be implemented ina grid environment and in which the present invention may beimplemented. As will be further described, the grid environment includesmultiple computer systems managed to provide resources. Additionally, aswill be further described, the present invention may be executed in avariety of computer systems, including a variety of computing systems,mobile systems, and electronic devices operating under a number ofdifferent operating systems managed within a grid environment.

In one embodiment, computer system 100 includes a bus 122 or otherdevice for communicating information within computer system 100, and atleast one processing device such as processor 112, coupled to bus 122for processing information. Bus 122 preferably includes low-latency andhigher latency paths that are connected by bridges and adapters andcontrolled within computer system 100 by multiple bus controllers. Whenimplemented as a server system, computer system 100 typically includesmultiple processors designed to improve network servicing power.

Processor 112 may be a general-purpose processor such as IBM's PowerPC™processor that, during normal operation, processes data under thecontrol of operating system and application software accessible from adynamic storage device such as random access memory (RAM) 114 and astatic storage device such as Read Only Memory (ROM) 116. The operatingsystem may provide a graphical user interface (GUI) to the user. In apreferred embodiment, application software contains machine executableinstructions that when executed on processor 112 carry out theoperations depicted in the flowcharts of FIGS. 8, and 9 and othersoperations described herein. Alternatively, the steps of the presentinvention might be performed by specific hardware components thatcontain hardwired logic for performing the steps, or by any combinationof programmed computer components and custom hardware components.

The present invention may be provided as a computer program product,included on a machine-readable medium having stored thereon the machineexecutable instructions used to program computer system 100 to perform aprocess according to the present invention. The term “machine-readablemedium” as used herein includes any medium that participates inproviding instructions to processor 112 or other components of computersystem 100 for execution. Such a medium may take many forms including,but not limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmissionmedia. Common forms of non-volatile media include, for example, a floppydisk, a flexible disk, a hard disk, magnetic tape or any other magneticmedium, a compact disc ROM (CD-ROM) or any other optical medium, punchcards or any other physical medium with patterns of holes, aprogrammable ROM (PROM), an erasable PROM (EPROM), electrically EPROM(EEPROM), a flash memory, any other memory chip or cartridge, or anyother medium from which computer system 100 can read and which issuitable for storing instructions. In the present embodiment, an exampleof a non-volatile medium is mass storage device 118 which as depicted isan internal component of computer system 100, but will be understood toalso be provided by an external device. Volatile media include dynamicmemory such as RAM 114. Transmission media include coaxial cables,copper wire or fiber optics, including the wires that comprise bus 122.Transmission media can also take the form of acoustic or light waves,such as those generated during radio frequency or infrared datacommunications.

Moreover, the present invention may be downloaded as a computer programproduct, wherein the program instructions may be transferred from aremote virtual resource, such as a virtual resource 160, to requestingcomputer system 100 by way of data signals embodied in a carrier wave orother propagation medium via a network link 134 (e.g. a modem or networkconnection) to a communications interface 132 coupled to bus 122.Virtual resource 160 may include a virtual representation of theresources accessible from a single system or systems, wherein multiplesystems may each be considered discrete sets of resources operating onindependent platforms, but coordinated as a virtual resource by a gridmanager. Communications interface 132 provides a two-way datacommunications coupling to network link 134 that may be connected, forexample, to a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), or anInternet Service Provider (ISP) that provide access to network 102. Inparticular, network link 134 may provide wired and/or wireless networkcommunications to one or more networks, such as network 102, throughwhich use of virtual resources, such as virtual resource 160, isaccessible as provided by a grid management system 150. Grid managementsystem 150 may be part of multiple types of networks, including apeer-to-peer network, or may be part of a single computer system, suchas computer system 100.

As one example, network 102 may refer to the worldwide collection ofnetworks and gateways that use a particular protocol, such asTransmission Control Protocol (TCP) and Internet Protocol (IP), tocommunicate with one another. Network 102 uses electrical,electromagnetic, or optical signals that carry digital data streams. Thesignals through the various networks and the signals on network link 134and through communication interface 132, which carry the digital data toand from computer system 100, are exemplary forms of carrier wavestransporting the information. It will be understood that alternate typesof networks, combinations of networks, and infrastructures of networksmay be implemented.

When implemented as a server system, computer system 100 typicallyincludes multiple communication interfaces accessible via multipleperipheral component interconnect (PCI) bus bridges connected to aninput/output controller. In this manner, computer system 100 allowsconnections to multiple network computers.

Additionally, although not depicted, multiple peripheral components andinternal/external devices may be added to computer system 100, connectedto multiple controllers, adapters, and expansion slots coupled to one ofthe multiple levels of bus 122. For example, a display device, audiodevice, keyboard, or cursor control device may be added as a peripheralcomponent.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the hardwaredepicted in FIG. 1 may vary. Furthermore, those of ordinary skill in theart will appreciate that the depicted example is not meant to implyarchitectural limitations with respect to the present invention.

With reference now to FIG. 2, a block diagram illustrates one embodimentof the general types of components within a grid environment. In thepresent example, the components of a grid environment 240 include aclient system 200 interfacing with a grid management system 150 whichinterfaces with server clusters 222, servers 224, workstations anddesktops 226, data storage systems 228, and networks 230. For purposesof illustration, the network locations and types of networks connectingthe components within grid environment 240 are not depicted. It will beunderstood, however, that the components within grid environment 240 mayreside atop a network infrastructure architecture that may beimplemented with multiple types of networks overlapping one another.Network infrastructure may range from multiple large enterprise systemsto a peer-to-peer system to a single computer system. Further, it willbe understood that the components within grid environment 240 are merelyrepresentations of the types of components within a grid environment. Agrid environment may simply be encompassed in a single computer systemor may encompass multiple enterprises of systems.

The central goal of a grid environment, such as grid environment 240 isorganization and delivery of resources from multiple discrete systemsviewed as virtual resource 160. Client system 200, server clusters 222,servers 224, workstations and desktops 226, data storage systems 228,networks 230 and the systems creating grid management system 150 may beheterogeneous and regionally distributed with independent managementsystems, but enabled to exchange information, resources, and servicesthrough a grid infrastructure enabled by grid management system 150.Further, server clusters 222, servers 224, workstations and desktops226, data storage systems 228, and networks 230 may be geographicallydistributed across countries and continents or locally accessible to oneanother.

In the example, client system 200 interfaces with grid management system150. Client system 200 may represent any computing system sendingrequests to grid management system 150. In particular, client system 200may send job requests and jobs to grid management system 150. Further,while in the present embodiment client system 200 is depicted asaccessing grid environment 240 with a request, in alternate embodimentsclient system 200 may also operate within grid environment 240.

While the systems within virtual resource 160 are depicted in parallel,in reality, the systems may be part of a hierarchy of systems where somesystems within virtual resource 160 may be local to client system 200,while other systems require access to external networks. Additionally,it is important to note, that systems depicted within virtual resources160 may be physically encompassed within client system 200.

One function of grid management system 150 is to manage job requests andjobs from client system 200 and control distribution of each job to aselection of computing systems of virtual resource 160 for use ofparticular resources at the available computing systems within virtualresource 160. From the perspective of client system 200, however,virtual resource 160 handles the request and returns the result withoutdifferentiating between which computing system in virtual resource 160actually performed the request.

To implement grid environment 240, grid management system 150facilitates grid services. Grid services may be designed according tomultiple architectures, including, but not limited to, the Open GridServices Architecture (OGSA). In particular, grid management system 150refers to the management environment which creates a grid by linkingcomputing systems into a heterogeneous network environment characterizedby sharing of resources through grid services.

In one example, a grid service is invoked when grid management system150 receives a free text string search query. The grid service is asearch service that manages distribution of the free text string tomultiple grid components within a virtual resource or multiple virtualresources, where each grid component is enabled to interpret aparticular type of aspect of language. The grid service scavenges foraspect interpretation components within the gird environment andsynthesizes the interpretation results returned from the multiple aspectinterpretation components.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a block diagram illustrates one example of anarchitecture that may be implemented in a grid environment. As depicted,an architecture 300 includes multiple layers of functionality. As willbe further described, the present invention is a process which may beimplemented in one or more layers of an architecture, such asarchitecture 300, which is implemented in a grid environment, such asthe grid environment described in FIG. 2. It is important to note thatarchitecture 300 is just one example of an architecture that may beimplemented in a grid environment and in which the present invention maybe implemented. Further, it is important to note that multiplearchitectures may be implemented within a grid environment.

Within architecture 300, first, a physical and logical resources layer330 organizes the resources of the systems in the grid. Physicalresources include, but are not limited to, servers, storage media, andnetworks. The logical resources virtualize and aggregate the physicallayer into usable resources such as operating systems, processing power,memory, I/O processing, file systems, database managers, directories,memory managers, and other resources.

Next, a web services layer 320 provides an interface between gridservices 310 and physical and logical resources 330. Web services layer320 implements service interfaces including, but not limited to, WebServices Description Language (WSDL), Simple Object Access Protocol(SOAP), and eXtensible mark-up language (XML) executing atop an InternetProtocol (IP) or other network transport layer. Further, the Open GridServices Infrastructure (OSGI) standard 322 builds on top of current webservices 320 by extending web services 320 to provide capabilities fordynamic and manageable Web services required to model the resources ofthe grid. In particular, by implementing OGSI standard 322 with webservices 320, grid services 310 designed using OGSA are interoperable.In alternate embodiments, other infrastructures or additionalinfrastructures may be implemented a top web services layer 320.

Grid services layer 310 includes multiple services. For example, gridservices layer 310 may include grid services designed using OGSA, suchthat a uniform standard is implemented in creating grid services.Alternatively, grid services may be designed under multiplearchitectures. Grid services can be grouped into four main functions. Itwill be understood, however, that other functions may be performed bygrid services.

First, a resource management service 302 manages the use of the physicaland logical resources. Resources may include, but are not limited to,processing resources, memory resources, and storage resources.Management of these resources includes receiving job requests,scheduling job requests, distributing jobs, and managing the retrievalof the results for jobs. Resource management service 302 preferablymonitors resource loads and distributes jobs to less busy parts of thegrid to balance resource loads and absorb unexpected peaks of activity.In particular, a user may specify preferred performance levels so thatresource management service 302 distributes jobs to maintain thepreferred performance levels within the grid.

Second, information services 304 manages the information transfer andcommunication between computing systems within the grid. Since multiplecommunication protocols may be implemented, information services 304preferably manages communications across multiple networks utilizingmultiple types of communication protocols.

Third, a data management service 306 manages data transfer and storagewithin the grid. In particular, data management service 306 may movedata to nodes within the grid where a job requiring the data willexecute. A particular type of transfer protocol, such as Grid FileTransfer Protocol (GridFTP), may be implemented.

Finally, a security service 308 applies a security protocol for securityat the connection layers of each of the systems operating within thegrid. Security service 308 may implement security protocols, such asOpen Secure Socket Layers (SSL), to provide secure transmissions.Further, security service 308 may provide a single sign-on mechanism, sothat once a user is authenticated, a proxy certificate is created andused when performing actions within the grid for the user.

Multiple services may work together to provide several key functions ofa grid computing system. In a first example, computational tasks aredistributed within a grid. Data management service 306 may divide up acomputation task into separate grid services requests of packets of datathat are then distributed by and managed by resource management service302. The results are collected and consolidated by data managementsystem 306. In a second example, the storage resources across multiplecomputing systems in the grid are viewed as a single virtual datastorage system managed by data management service 306 and monitored byresource management service 302.

An applications layer 340 includes applications that use one or more ofthe grid services available in grid services layer 310. Advantageously,applications interface with the physical and logical resources 330 viagrid services layer 310 and web services 320, such that multipleheterogeneous systems can interact and interoperate.

With reference now to FIG. 4, there is depicted a block diagram of thelogical components of a search service functioning within a gridenvironment in accordance with the method, system, and program of thepresent invention. As depicted, search service 406, within a gridenvironment 400, receives text strings from a client system 200. Thetext strings may include free text entered in the form of naturallanguage, Boolean expressions, and other forms of text input. It isimportant to note that the text string may include multiplespecifications, where the multiple specifications may be provided usingmultiple words, phrases, or symbols or a single word, phrase, or symbol.In particular, when a text string includes multiple specifications, itmay include multiple aspects that can be interpreted.

Search service 406 then distributes the text string to multiple logicalgrid components. For example, search service 406 may distribute the textstring to grid components 408, 410, and 412. As referred to in theexample, grid components 408, 410, and 412 may include groupings ofmultiple types of grid resources and may each be considered a virtualresource.

In the example, in distributing the text string to grid components 408,410, and 412, search service 406 preferably schedules and coordinatesdistribution of the text string a selection of multiple available gridcomponents. In particular, each grid component preferably includes ameaning detector for analyzing the text string for a particular aspectand then interpreting the aspect if it is found. More specifically, eachgrid component may include a knowledge and grammar controller forenabling the grid component to determine the meaning of a particularaspect.

According to one embodiment, the selection of grid components 408, 410,and 412 each process the text string for a different aspect in parallelso that search service 406 receives interpretation results quickly andconcurrently from the selection of grid components. In particular, byprocessing a multiple specification text string by multiple gridcomponents running in parallel, an efficient, thorough, and accurateparsing of the text string is available.

In addition, according to one embodiment, grid components 408, 410, and412 can be accessed by multiple search services, such as search service406. In particular, within a grid environment, a different instance of asearch service may be invoked to handle each search request. Further,different instances of the same type of search service may be invokedfrom different web interfaces. Thus, grid components 408, 410, and 412may be available as “plug-and-play” components that are reusable formultiple search requests, by multiple clients invoking search services,and by multiple of search services.

Within grid environment 400, search service 406 may have access tomultiple grid components that analyze the same aspect. For a particularsearch, however, search service 406 may only schedule one grid componentto analyze each particular aspect. Thus, search service 406 may scheduleand coordinate distribution of each text string to a selection ofavailable grid components that analyze multiple types of aspects, butthat also meet particular performance criteria. In particular, each gridcomponent may designate performance specifications and costs, wheresearch service 406 preferably schedules those available grid componentsthat meet performance and cost requirements for a free text stringsearch. Further, any of grid components 408, 410, and 412 may beclassified as on-demand resources that can be allocated to meet peakload requirements or other performance requirements.

Search service 406 may determine which aspect components to invoke for aparticular text string interpretation based on selections by a systemadministrator, a user, or preliminary analysis of the type of textstring. It will be understood that as the number of aspects interpretedincreases, greater thoroughness in parsing is achieved in attempts toreach a more accurate final search result. In addition, grid components408, 410, and 412 are preferably configurable such that search service406, a user, or a system administrator can enable or disable any singlegrid component or component group for a particular text stringinterprentation. In particular, where grid resources are constrained ora user wants a specific match, it may be advantageous to allow manualcontrol of the selection of grid components.

The selection of grid components preferably concurrently returninterpretations of different aspects of the text string to searchservice 406. Search service 406 synthesizes the interpretations returnedfrom each of the grid components into an accurate and thoroughsearch-ready string describing the search specification and passes thesearch-ready string to search engine 404. A search-ready string ispreferably a search query in a format and protocol implemented by searchengine 404. In addition, a search-ready string may be a search query ina format and protocol that can be converted into a format and protocolimplemented by search engine 404.

Search engine 404 receives the search-ready string and performs a searchusing the search-ready string. Search engine 404 may perform multipletypes of searches including, but not limited to, database searches, webpage searches, and searches of products, services, information, andother collective data accessible to search engine 404. Search engine 404preferably returns search results to search service 406. Search service406 then returns the search results to client system 200.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is depicted a block diagram of thecomponents of a search service in accordance with the method, system,and program of the present invention. In particular, search service 406includes a combination of components including, but not limited to, acomponent scheduler 502, a string synthesizer 504, a request controller506, and a request queue 508. Text strings received by search service406 are added to request queue 508. A component scheduler 502 schedulesaspect components for use in interpreting multiple aspects of the textstring and distributes the text string to the scheduled components.Aspect interpretations received from the multiple aspect components aregathered in request queue 508 with the original text string. A stringsynthesizer 504 synthesizes the aspect interpretations into asearch-ready string. Request controller 506 then passes the search-readystring to a search engine, receives the search results, formats thesearch results for the requester, and returns the search results to therequester. It will be understood that additional components necessaryfor implementing a grid service may be included in search service 406.

With reference now to FIG. 6, there is depicted a block diagram of agrid component specified to interpret a particular aspect in accordancewith the method, system, and program of the present invention. Asdepicted, a grid component 600 includes a combination of componentsincluding, but not limited to, an aspect interpretation controller 602and an aspect meaning database 604. Aspect interpretation controller 602preferably interprets a particular aspect of text strings to determinethe meaning of the text string. Aspect interpretation controller 602 mayperform knowledge and grammar interpretation, referring to aspectmeaning database 604 for interpretation criteria, rules, data, and otherinformation helpful in interpreting a meaning. It will be understoodthat additional controllers, databases, and other resources necessaryfor implementing a grid aspect interpretation component may be includedin grid component 600. Furthermore, it is important to note that aspectinterpretation controller 602 and meaning database 604 are accessible asreusable resources combined to create a grid component that interprets aparticular aspect.

Referring now to FIG. 7, there is depicted an illustrative example of asearch service converting a text string into search-ready string usingmultiple grid components to interpret multiple aspects of the textstring. As depicted, search service 406 receives a text string 702. Inthe example, text string 702 is “$27 polo aqua pants”.

Search service 406 schedules multiple grid components to interpretmultiple aspects of text string 702. In the example, search service 406schedules grid component 710 to interpret any “price” aspect, gridcomponent 712 to interpret any “style” aspect”, grid component 714 tointerpret any “color” aspect, grid component 716 to interpret any“textile” aspect, and grid component 718 to interpret any “item” aspect.Each grid component may include dictionaries of terms and phrases andimplement other meaning detectors enabled to interpret the meaning andcontext of particular aspects of multiple specification, naturallanguage text string. It will be understood that the aspects interpretedby grid components 710, 712, 714, 716, and 718 are provided merely asillustrative examples of the types of aspects that may be interpreted bya grid component and not as limitations on the aspects of text stringsthat may be interpreted by grid components.

In the example, more specifically, grid component 710 detects andinterprets the “price” aspect of text string 702 of “$27”. Inparticular, grid component 710 interprets that “$27” is a “price” aspectand returns an interpretation of “price range: ($20, $30)”.

Next, as depicted, grid component 712 detects and interprets the “style”aspect of text string 702 of “polo”. In particular, grid component 712interprets that “polo” is a “style” aspect and returns an interpretationof “style: classic, regal, formal, business, business casual.”

Grid component 714 detects and interprets the “color” aspect of textstring 702 of “aqua”. In particular, grid component 714 interprets that“aqua” is a “color” aspect and returns an interpretation of “colorfamily: blue”.

Grid component 716 depicts and interprets the “textile” aspect of textstring 702. In particular, the interpretation returned by grid component716 indicates that no “textile” aspect is included in text string 702.It is important to note that search service 406 may schedule gridcomponents to interpret a aspect that is not included the text string.

Grid component 718 depicts and interprets the “item” aspect of textstring 702 of “pants”. In particular, grid component 718 interprets that“pants” is an “item” and returns an interpretation of “item: pants”.

Search service 406 retrieves the attribute interpretations from the gridcomponents and synthesizes the interpretations in a search-ready string720. Preferably, search service 406 uses a format and protocol forpreparation of search-ready string 720 that are understandable by searchengine 404. In the example, the search-ready string is implemented in aBoolean operator format using pre-defined variables “item”, “pricerange”, “style”, “color family”, and “textile” for aspects. In addition,while in the example, the pre-defined variable names match the aspectnames returned by each of the grid components, it will be understood,that in synthesizing search ready string 720, search service 406 may mapthe aspect interpretations to the format required for the search-readystring.

It is important to note that the goal of search service 406 is tocapture the meaning of the multiple specifications of text string 702and determine a search-ready string representing the meaning of textstring 702. In the example, through the flexibility of using gridcomponents to interpret the meaning of different aspects of the textstring, an accurate and efficient method, system, and program areimplemented to convert text string 702 into search-ready string 720.

With reference now to FIG. 8, there is depicted a high level logicflowchart of a process and program for controlling a search service inaccordance with the method, system, and program of the presentinvention. As depicted, the process starts at block 800 and thereafterproceeds to block 802. Block 802 depicts a determination whether asearch text string is received. If a search text string is not received,then the process iterates at block 802. If a search text string isreceived, then the process passes to block 804. Block 804 depictspassing the search text string to multiple grid components. Next, block806 depicts a determination whether string interpretations are receivedfrom each of the multiple grid components. If string interpretations arenot yet received from all the grid components, then the process iteratesat block 806. If string interpretations are received from all the gridcomponents, then the process passes to block 808.

Block 808 depicts synthesizing the string interpretations into asearch-ready string. Next, block 810 depicts passing the search-readystring to the search engine. Thereafter, block 812 depicts adetermination whether search results are received from the searchengine. If search results are not yet received from the search engine,then the process iterates at block 812. If search results are receivedfrom the search engine, then the process passes to block 814. Block 814depicts returning the search results to the requesting system, and theprocess ends.

Referring now to FIG. 9, there is depicted a high level logic flowchartof a process and program for controlling a grid component in accordancewith the method, system, and program of the present invention. Asdepicted, the process starts at block 900 and thereafter proceeds toblock 902. Block 902 depicts a determination whether a search textstring is received from a search service. If a search text string is notreceived from a search service, the process iterates at block 902. If asearch text string is received from a search service, then the processpasses to block 904. Block 904 depicts interpreting a particular aspectof the search text string. Next, block 906 depicts returning the stringinterpretation to the search service, and the process ends.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described withreference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

1. A system for handling a free text search query, comprising: a gridenvironment comprising a plurality of computing systems each comprisingat least one resource and communicatively connected over a network toshare each said at least one resource through at least one grid serviceimplemented within an open grid services architecture enablinginterfacing with each said at least one resource through at least oneweb service; a grid management system for receiving a plurality ofseparate job requests from a plurality of client systems over saidnetwork and for managing distribution of said plurality of separate jobrequests to at least one grid service from among said plurality of gridservices; said grid management system, responsive to said gridmanagement system receiving a particular job request from a particularclient system with a free text string comprising a plurality ofspecifications as a search query, for invoking a search service fromamong said plurality of grid services to perform said job request; andsaid search service comprising: means for controlling distribution ofsaid free text string to a selection of a plurality of grid components,wherein each of said selection of said plurality of grid components isenabled to interpret a meaning of a particular aspect of said pluralityof specifications in said free text string, wherein each of saidplurality of grid components comprises at least one of said at least oneresource; means for receiving a plurality of aspect interpretations ofsaid free text string from said selection of said plurality of gridcomponents; means for synthesizing said plurality of aspectinterpretations into a search-ready query; means for passing saidsearch-ready query to a search engine within said grid environment; andmeans, responsive to receiving at least one search result for saidsearch-ready query from said search engine, for returning said at leastone search result to said particular client system.
 2. The systemaccording to claim 1 for handling a free text search query, wherein saidsearch-ready query further comprises a search query formatted forsubmission to said search engine.
 3. The system according to claim 1 forhandling a free text search query, wherein at least one of saidplurality of specifications within said free text string comprises asymbol.
 4. The system according to claim 1 for handling a free textsearch query, said search service further comprising: means fordistributing each separate aspect within said plurality ofspecifications to a separate grid component within said selection ofsaid plurality of grid components in parallel to facilitate concurrentreceipt of a plurality of aspect interpretations for each said separateaspect received by said search service from said selection of saidplurality of grid components.
 5. The system according to claim 1 forhandling a free text search query, each of said plurality of gridcomponents further comprising: a mean database comprising at least onerule for interpreting a separate particular aspect; and an aspectinterpretation controller for interpreting said separate particularaspect of at least one said plurality of specifications of said freetext string.
 6. The system according to claim 1 for handling a free textsearch query, said search service further comprising: means forscheduling said selection of said plurality of grid components, whereineach of said selection of said plurality of grid components meets aperformance requirement for handling said search request.
 7. The systemaccording to claim 1 for handling a free text search query, wherein saidselection of said plurality of grid components are reusable by said gridmanagement system across any of a plurality of search services invokedfor interpreting job requests comprising search queries.
 8. A method forhandling a free text search query, comprising: enabling a gridenvironment comprising a plurality of computing systems each comprisingat least one resource and communicatively connected over a network toshare each said at least one resource through at least one grid serviceimplemented within an open grid services architecture enablinginterfacing with each said at least one resource through at least oneweb service; receiving a plurality of separate job requests from aplurality of client systems over said network at a grid managementsystem; managing distribution from said grid management system of saidplurality of separate job requests to at least one grid service fromamong said plurality of grid services; responsive to said gridmanagement system receiving a particular job request from a particularclient system with a free text string comprising a plurality ofspecifications as a search query, invoking a search service from amongsaid plurality of grid services to perform said job request; controllingdistribution of said free text string from said search service to aselection of a plurality of grid components, wherein each of saidselection of said plurality of grid components is enabled to interpret ameaning of a particular aspect of said plurality of specifications insaid free text string, wherein each of said plurality of grid componentscomprises at least one of said at least one resource; receiving at saidsearch service a plurality of aspect interpretations of said free textstring from said selection of said plurality of grid components;synthesizing said plurality of aspect interpretations at said searchservice into a search-ready query; passing said search-ready query fromsaid search service to a search engine within said grid environment; andresponsive to receiving at least one search result for said search-readyquery from said search engine at said search service, returning said atleast one search result from said search service to said particularclient system.
 9. The method according to claim 8 for handling a freetext search query, further comprising: formatting said search-readyquery into a particular search query format required for submission tosaid search engine.
 10. The method according to claim 8 for handling afree text search query, wherein at least one of said plurality ofspecifications within said free text string comprises a symbol.
 11. Themethod according to claim 8 for handling a free text search query,further comprising: distributing by said search service each separateaspect within said plurality of specifications to a separate gridcomponent within said selection of said plurality of grid components inparallel to facilitate concurrent receipt of a plurality of aspectinterpretations for each said separate aspect received by said searchservice from said selection of said plurality of grid components. 12.The method according to claim 8 for handling a free text search query,further comprising: interpreting a separate particular aspect at each ofsaid plurality of grid components by a separate aspect interpretercontroller based on at least one rule accessed from a separate meaningdatabase specified for interpreting said separate particular aspect. 13.The method according to claim 8 for handling a free text search query,further comprising: scheduling said selection of said plurality of gridcomponents, wherein each of said selection of said plurality of gridcomponents meets a performance requirement for handling said searchrequest.
 14. The method according to claim 8 for handling a free textsearch query, wherein said selection of said plurality of gridcomponents are reusable by said grid management system across any of aplurality of search services invoked for interpreting job requestscomprising search queries.
 15. A computer program product, stored on avolatile or non-volatile computer readable medium, for handling a freetext search query, which when executed by a processor comprises:enabling a grid environment comprising a plurality of computing systemseach comprising at least one resource and communicatively connected overa network to share each said at least one resource through at least onegrid service implemented within an open grid services architectureenabling interfacing with each said at least one resource through atleast one web service; receiving a plurality of separate job requestsfrom a plurality of client systems over said network at a gridmanagement system; managing distribution from said grid managementsystem of said plurality of separate job requests to at least one gridservice from among said plurality of grid services; responsive to saidgrid management system receiving a particular job request from aparticular client system with a free text string comprising a pluralityof specifications as a search query, invoking a search service fromamong said plurality of grid services to perform said job request;controlling distribution of said free text string from said searchservice to a selection of a plurality of grid components, wherein eachof said selection of said plurality of grid components is enabled tointerpret a meaning of a particular aspect of said plurality ofspecifications in said free text string, wherein each of said pluralityof grid components comprises at least one of said at least one resource;receiving a plurality of aspect interpretations of said free text stringfrom said selection of said plurality of grid components; synthesizingsaid plurality of aspect interpretations at said search service into asearch-ready query; passing said search-ready query from said searchservice to a search engine within said grid environment; and responsiveto receiving at least one search result for said search-ready query fromsaid search engine at said search service, returning said at least onesearch result from said search service to said particular client system.16. The computer program product according to claim 15 for handling afree text search query, further comprising formatting said search-readyquery into a particular search query format required for submission tosaid search engine.
 17. The computer program product according to claim15 for handling a free text search query, wherein at least one of saidplurality of specifications within said free text string comprises asymbol.
 18. The computer program product according to claim 15 forhandling a free text search query, further comprising: distributing bysaid search service each separate aspect within said plurality ofspecifications to a separate grid component within said selection ofsaid plurality of grid components in parallel to facilitate concurrentreceipt of a plurality of aspect interpretations for each said separateaspect received by said search service from said selection of saidplurality of grid components.
 19. The computer program product accordingto claim 15 for handling a free text search query, further comprising:interpreting a separate particular aspect at each of said plurality ofgrid components by a separate aspect interpreter controller based on atleast one rule accessed from a separate meaning database specified forinterpreting said separate particular aspect.
 20. The computer programproduct according to claim 15 for handling a free text search query,further comprising: scheduling said selection of said plurality of gridcomponents, wherein each of said selection of said plurality of gridcomponents meets a performance requirement for handling said searchrequest.